Beluga Shipping has begun what may be a new era in shipping with the maiden voyage of the MV “Beluga SkySails” a cargo vessel using the SkySails towing kite system which adds wind power to assist in moving the vessel over the ocean.
The MV “Beluga SkySails” has started her maiden voyage according to plan. The world’s first multipurpose heavy lift project carrier that due to an innovative towing kite system is co-powered by wind energy, did cast off on Tuesday evening (22nd of January, 2008) at 8.18 pm from “Columbuskaje” in Bremerhaven. The port of destination for the first voyage over approximately 4400 sea miles in length is Guanta in Venezuela.
The MV “Beluga SkySails” is equipped with a 160 square meter sail which will be scaled up over the coming year to 320 square meters and may, depending on wind conditions, lead to savings of as much as 20 to 30 percent. Larger vessels are planned for the future:
… two larger multi purpose heavy lift project carriers of the Beluga P1- series, which are to be equipped with SkySails systems in the near future, too, and are currently under construction, kites having a sail area of as much as 600 square metres will then be used. On this basis, fuel savings in the dimension of up to ten tons daily can be anticipated according to present-day estimates, corresponding to a reduction in ship voyage expenses of over 6,000 US dollars.
This is an interesting development worth watching over the coming years to see whether anticipated savings actually materialize. If they do, expect more carriers to adopt the SkySails system.
Link: Beluga Shipping